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Els <3
07/12/2025
Biology
Biology paper one knowledge checklist
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7 Dec 2025
•
AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 Topic Checklist
Els <3
@ayoitsmeellie
1 / 4
Cell Biology Fundamentals
You'll start by mastering the difference between prokaryotic cells (like bacteria) and eukaryotic cells (like plant and animal cells). Understanding cell structure is crucial since it forms the foundation for everything else in biology.
The practical work involves using light microscopes to observe cells and calculating magnification using the formula: magnification = size of image ÷ size of real object. You'll also need to compare this with electron microscopes in terms of resolution and magnification power.
Cell division through mitosis and the role of stem cells are major exam topics. Make sure you understand how stem cells can differentiate into specialised cells and their potential uses in medicine, including the ethical debates surrounding their use.
Transport processes - diffusion, osmosis, and active transport - explain how substances move in and out of cells. Pay special attention to surface area to volume ratios and how they affect exchange efficiency in different organisms.
Key Tip: Practice calculating magnification and surface area to volume ratios - these mathematical skills often trip students up in exams!
Organisation and Body Systems
This section moves from cells to tissues to organs to organ systems. You'll explore how enzymes work using the lock and key theory and investigate how temperature and pH affect their activity.
The digestive system gets detailed coverage, including specific enzymes like amylase, protease, and lipase. Don't forget about bile - where it's made (liver), stored (gall bladder), and what it does (emulsifies fats).
Your circulatory system knowledge needs to be spot-on: heart structure, blood vessel types, and blood components. Understanding coronary heart disease and its treatments (including stents, statins, and transplants) is essential for exam success.
Plant organisation covers specialised tissues like xylem and phloem, plus processes like transpiration and translocation. Learn how environmental factors affect transpiration rates and how stomata control gas exchange.
Key Tip: Draw and label diagrams of the heart, digestive system, and leaf structure - visual memory really helps with these topics!
Infection and Response
Understanding how pathogens spread and cause harm is vital for this topic. You'll study examples of viral, bacterial, fungal, and protist pathogens, from measles to malaria.
Your body's defence mechanisms work on multiple levels - physical barriers like skin and stomach acid, plus the immune system with white blood cells that destroy pathogens through phagocytosis and antibody production.
Vaccination works by exposing your immune system to harmless versions of pathogens, creating immunological memory. This provides protection at both individual and population levels through herd immunity.
Drug development involves rigorous testing phases, from laboratory trials to clinical trials with placebos and double-blind studies. Understanding why this process takes years helps explain drug safety and effectiveness.
Key Tip: Learn specific examples of each pathogen type and their transmission methods - examiners love testing these details!
Bioenergetics
Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. This endothermic reaction depends on limiting factors like light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.
Understanding limiting factors through graphs is crucial - you'll need to interpret how changing conditions affect photosynthesis rates. For Higher Tier, you'll explore how multiple factors interact and their economic importance in greenhouse management.
Respiration releases energy from glucose for cellular processes. Aerobic respiration produces more energy than anaerobic respiration, but muscles can switch to anaerobic when oxygen runs low, producing lactic acid and creating oxygen debt.
Plants use glucose from photosynthesis for various purposes: immediate energy, storing as starch, making cellulose for cell walls, and combining with minerals to make proteins and fats.
Key Tip: Practice interpreting limiting factor graphs and learn both word and chemical equations for photosynthesis and respiration - these appear frequently in exams!
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1 Topic Checklist
Els <3
@ayoitsmeellie
These learning checklists cover the essential biology topics for AQA GCSE Biology Paper 1, breaking down everything you need to master from cell biology to bioenergetics. Think of this as your roadmap to exam success - each checklist item represents... Show more
Cell Biology Fundamentals
You'll start by mastering the difference between prokaryotic cells (like bacteria) and eukaryotic cells (like plant and animal cells). Understanding cell structure is crucial since it forms the foundation for everything else in biology.
The practical work involves using light microscopes to observe cells and calculating magnification using the formula: magnification = size of image ÷ size of real object. You'll also need to compare this with electron microscopes in terms of resolution and magnification power.
Cell division through mitosis and the role of stem cells are major exam topics. Make sure you understand how stem cells can differentiate into specialised cells and their potential uses in medicine, including the ethical debates surrounding their use.
Transport processes - diffusion, osmosis, and active transport - explain how substances move in and out of cells. Pay special attention to surface area to volume ratios and how they affect exchange efficiency in different organisms.
Key Tip: Practice calculating magnification and surface area to volume ratios - these mathematical skills often trip students up in exams!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Organisation and Body Systems
This section moves from cells to tissues to organs to organ systems. You'll explore how enzymes work using the lock and key theory and investigate how temperature and pH affect their activity.
The digestive system gets detailed coverage, including specific enzymes like amylase, protease, and lipase. Don't forget about bile - where it's made (liver), stored (gall bladder), and what it does (emulsifies fats).
Your circulatory system knowledge needs to be spot-on: heart structure, blood vessel types, and blood components. Understanding coronary heart disease and its treatments (including stents, statins, and transplants) is essential for exam success.
Plant organisation covers specialised tissues like xylem and phloem, plus processes like transpiration and translocation. Learn how environmental factors affect transpiration rates and how stomata control gas exchange.
Key Tip: Draw and label diagrams of the heart, digestive system, and leaf structure - visual memory really helps with these topics!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Infection and Response
Understanding how pathogens spread and cause harm is vital for this topic. You'll study examples of viral, bacterial, fungal, and protist pathogens, from measles to malaria.
Your body's defence mechanisms work on multiple levels - physical barriers like skin and stomach acid, plus the immune system with white blood cells that destroy pathogens through phagocytosis and antibody production.
Vaccination works by exposing your immune system to harmless versions of pathogens, creating immunological memory. This provides protection at both individual and population levels through herd immunity.
Drug development involves rigorous testing phases, from laboratory trials to clinical trials with placebos and double-blind studies. Understanding why this process takes years helps explain drug safety and effectiveness.
Key Tip: Learn specific examples of each pathogen type and their transmission methods - examiners love testing these details!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Bioenergetics
Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. This endothermic reaction depends on limiting factors like light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and temperature.
Understanding limiting factors through graphs is crucial - you'll need to interpret how changing conditions affect photosynthesis rates. For Higher Tier, you'll explore how multiple factors interact and their economic importance in greenhouse management.
Respiration releases energy from glucose for cellular processes. Aerobic respiration produces more energy than anaerobic respiration, but muscles can switch to anaerobic when oxygen runs low, producing lactic acid and creating oxygen debt.
Plants use glucose from photosynthesis for various purposes: immediate energy, storing as starch, making cellulose for cell walls, and combining with minerals to make proteins and fats.
Key Tip: Practice interpreting limiting factor graphs and learn both word and chemical equations for photosynthesis and respiration - these appear frequently in exams!
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user